The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-12
ghe 2nhlishing 8omse.
Rev. DR.. Eddy's Historical sketch-Read in
Boston, Thursday Afternoon, Oct. 81, at
the Twenty-ffth Anniversary.

Prior to the date of the organization of the
Publishing House, whose quarter of a century
of existence we are here to celebrate, all Uni
versalist publications. including periodicals,
were the product of personal enterprise. In
some instances they were source of profit to
those engaged in them but in most CAGES the
results were disappointing to the ambition
| enlisted and the expectations raised by those
| who conducted the enterprises. Forty five
| years ago, announcement was made that a
Publishing House had been established on a
corporate basis, at Philomath, Ind, chiefly at
| the instigation of Rev. Jonathan Kidwell,
| then and there editing UniversaIist periodi-
| cal entitled The Philomath Encyclopedia"
have not been able to obtain, nor to be as
sured of single book or pamphlet issued by
| that organization and from the fact that the
Encyclopedia" continued to be published by
Mr.. Kidwell as a personal enterprise till its
suspension in 1876, feel warranted in saying
that the Publishing House existed only on
paper and never issued any books. pamphlets
| or periodicals.
An examination of the photography ap-
pended to the second volume of "Universali-
| ism in America" shows that of the ], 1866 books
and pamph cts on Universalism published in
this country from the year 1853 to the close of
|
Boston, and at least 200 more in various parts
| of New England; while of the 1856 Universalist
periodicals published from 1898 to the close of
1861, % originated in Boston, IA in other por-
lions of Massachusetts. and 80 in other local.
ties in New England.
Itwould seem to be natural, therefore. that to
New England, centering in Boston, should be-
long the task and the honor of establishing a
Universalist Publishing House, all the pecun-
larry profits of which should be devoted to the
improvement of the quality and the increase
of the efficiency of it's books, periodicals and
other publications. The first step in accom-
plishing this result was taken on the Both of
| January, 1862, when "a meeting of perso
friendly to the establishment of Denomina-
tional paper. to be the organ of the Universal
lists of Massachusetts and of such other
States as shall elect" was held. Organizing
with Mr.. John DIV, JOY, as Chairman, and
Rev. J. S. Barry, Clerk, the following plan was
approved.
First. The organization of a corporation
"under the general laws of Massachusetts, -
with a certain amount of capital, to consist of
| $50 shares.
Second An Executive Board of Trustees
to be chosen by the stockholders when the en-
| management of the paper.
Third. The employees, including editors and
agents, to be appointed by the trustees, sub
| ject to the apps oval of the stockholders.
Fourth. The income of the paper to be ap-
propriated in the way afterward substantially
engrafted in the bylaws.
| Fifth. When $50 shares are subscrib, d, an
| Act of Incorporation shall be taken out, and
the organization completed. The officers sha |
then confer with the proprietors of the Chris
tian Freeman" and of the Trumpet" and adj
wise them of the plan, and purchase their pa
| pers, one or both, iflthey will sell upon term,
satisfactory to the shid officers.
This plan being submitted to the Executive
| Committee of the Massachusetts, Universalist
Convention. was a>proved by them in the
following form:
/ WHEREAS, A plan for the publication of a
newspaper, to become the property of the Uni
| versalist denomination and to be devoted TO
it's interests exclusively, has been presented
for the approval of the Executive Committee
| of the Massachusetts Universalist Conven-
tion" therefore
| RESOLVED, That in the opinion of this Board
| a publication on the plan proposed would
| greatly subserve the present and future inter-
| ests of our cause, and we do hereby recon-
| mend it to the cooperation of its friends.
| Subscriptions exceeding the amount of stock
| originally intended were made in the next two
| months. Among the subscribers were the
| following clerggmen: Boston, A. A. Miner, ].
s. Cantwell; Roxbury, j. G. Bartholomew;
Lynn, S. Ellis; Lowell. ]. ]. Twiss; Medford,
j. s. Barry; Cambridgeport, G. r. Moor:
Brighton, j. Eastwood; Somerville, d. H.
Clark G.. Fl. Emerson; Chelsea, c. III. Leonard;
South Dedham, NJ r. Leonard; West Cam
bridge, W. E Gibbs: Plymouth, r. Tomlinson;
Weymouth e. Hewitt; East Cambridge, S. L.
Rorpaugh; Haverhill j. W. Hanson; Dudley,
J. Baker; Concord. N. H., ]. H. Moore; Hud-
son, N. Y, A. r. Abbott; Providence. II. L., c.
H. Fay, ]. c. Adams. The total number Of
subscribers clerical and lay was seventy-one
the subscriptions amounting to $9065, nearly
all of which was subsequently donated by the
stockholders. The following Articles of Asso-
citation were signed on the goth of March, 1862,
by James o. Curtis John d. w. JOY, Thomas
A. Goddard, A. A. Miner, John S. Barry, W,
H. Ireland and John G. Bartholomew
The undersigned. and such persons as may
subscribe for the capital stock of the corpor-
alton established by these Articles, do hereby
associate under THO provisions of Chapter so
of the General StS ktes of Massachusetts,, as
a Corporation, for N purpose of publishing
Universalist books a papers; and for the
said purpose hereby a&Se upon the following
Articles of Association:
First. That the Corporation shall be located
in Boston, under the name of The New Eng
land Universalist Publishing House.
Second. That the capital stock of said Cor
poration shall consist of not less than two
hundred and fifty ESQ shares of twenty $50
dollars each, and not exceed one thousand
1000 shares of like par value
Third The members of the Corporation
shall consist of the stockholders; and when.
ever the profits of the business shall have paid
all expenses and redeemed the stock, the
rights and property of the Corporation shall
be transferred by them according to the terms
of subscription to board of Trustees APP
proved by the stockholders, to hold the same
in trust forever for the interests of the de-
nomination of Universalists; and the said
stockholders in the meantime shall have the
whole management of the business. under
such bylaws as may be hereafter adopted.
Fourth. The Corporation may hold real and
personal property 10 an amount not exceed
lug the limits fixed by the General Statutes.
Fifth. The first meeting of the Corporation
shall be called by printed notice from four of
the corporators, sent by mail or otherwise to
each subscriber, specifying the time, place
and purposes of the meeting; the said meet
ing shall be held so soon as two hundred and
nifty $3.50 shares of capital stock shall be sub
seribed by responsible persons.
A month later the stockholders held their
first meeting, viz. on the 2lst of April, and
appointed Rev Meesrs A. A Miner and G. H.